Ground Beef Sold In Washington, Oregon Tests Positive For E. Coli

WASHINGTON — Federal food safety regulators are warning the public that ground beef sold at stores in Washington and Oregon tested positive fort E. coli.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert Wednesday over concerns that some ground beef products produced Dec. 16-17 and distributed to warehouses and sold at retailers in Washington and Orgon could be contaminated with E. coli O26.

No recall was requested as the products can no longer be bought.

The public health alert applied to the following products:

• 1 pound foam trays containing “ALL NATURAL LAURA’S LEAN BEEF 92% LEAN 8% FAT GROUND BEEF.” The product was labeled with 350/(timestamp)/Est.31805/002, with the timestamp ranging from 0602 to 1721.

• 1 pound foam trays containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF CARNE MOLIDA 96% LEAN 4% FAT.” The product was labeled with 350/(timestamp)/Est.31805/002, with the timestamp ranging from 0602 to 1721.

1 pound foam trays containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF CARNE MOLIDA 85% LEAN 15% FAT.” The product was labeled with 350/(timestamp)/Est.31805/002, with the timestamp ranging from 0602 to 1721.

• 1.3 pound foam trays containing “PRIVATE SELECTION ANGUS BEEF 90% LEAN 10% FAT GROUND SIRLOIN.” The product was labeled with 350/(timestamp)/Est.31805/002, with the timestamp ranging from 0602 to 1721. Additional product is labeled with 351/(timestamp)/Est. 31805/003, with the timestamp ranging from 1549 to 1651.

• 1 pound foam trays containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF CARNE MOLIDA 93% LEAN 7% FAT.” The product was labeled with 350/(timestamp)/Est.31805/002, with the timestamp ranging from 0602 to 1721.

• 1 pound foam trays containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF CARNE MOLIDA 80% LEAN 20% FAT.” The product was labeled with 350/(timestamp)/Est.31805/002, with the timestamp ranging from 0602 to 1721.

A consumer submitted a package of ground beef produced by Empire Packing with a use or freeze by date of Dec. 24 to a third-party laboratory for microbiological analysis. The consumer said they previously fell ill, but did not get tested for E coli, officials said. The third-party laboratory tests found the ground beef was positive for E. coli O26, federal food regulators said.

Anyone who thinks they fell ill from the beef should contact a healthcare provider.

Symptoms include diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting. Some illnesses can linger and become more severe.

Infections are usually diagnosed with stool sample tests.

Treatment typically includes vigorous rehydration and other supportive care, and most people recover within a week. In rare cases, people with weak immune systems can develop more serious symptoms, including kidney failure.

Food regulators said anyone who bought the beef products and froze them should throw them out or return them to the store.